News

Families and individuals flock to fairs every summer to enjoy a day out together. It is expected that fairground apparatus functions well. But what happens when individuals suffer harm from fairground ride malfunctions?

Duncan Lewis  Personal Injury team, led by Rebecca Thomas, are acting on behalf of a mother who spent four months in hospital after she was ejected from the Xcelerator ride at the Funderpark funfair in Yiewsley, Hillingdon, on 10 April 2018.

She suffered multiple fractures to her back, hips, pelvis, ribs, both collarbones as well as internal bleeding and a moderate to severe head injury.

The mother, who was 45 at the time, was not suitably restrained in her seat during the incident. As the ride picked up speed, she screamed for help and clung on for some time before being ejected, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). She hit the barrier of the next ride and landed on the ground. The now 51-year-old spent weeks in a coma and four months in the hospital.

HSE inspector Helen Donnelly said that the mother was “simply enjoying a day out with her children in what she expected to be a safe environment. As a result she continues to suffer pain and significant impact to her everyday life.”

In Court earlier this month, fairground designer/operators/manufacturer Perrin Stevens, Derek Hackett, and David Geary admitted to breaching health and safety regulations and were handed fines and suspended prison sentences. The civil claim is set to conclude in November 2024.

More recently, on June 8, an 11-year-old girl from south-east London suffered injuries to her legs, pelvis, and lower back, while her grandfather sustained a broken nose following a ride malfunction at the Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell. The Metropolitan Police reported that a man and a woman in their 40s were also treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The HSE is now leading an investigation into the ride malfunctions.

Incidents like these highlight the grave consequences of negligent funfair equipment and the importance of rigorous safety standards. Negligence arises when there is a breach of duty of care resulting in significant harm or injury. In scenarios involving amusement park rides, operators and maintenance personnel are responsible for ensuring all equipment is safe and functioning correctly. Failures in this duty, as seen in our client’s case and the recent Lambeth Country Show incident, can lead to severe, life-altering injuries.

Victims of such negligence often face long recovery periods, ongoing medical treatment, and substantial impacts on their daily lives. Duncan Lewis Solicitors Personal Injury team represents clients throughout England and Wales and is viewed as 'excellent' and 'experienced and knowledgeable' by the independent legal directory, The Legal 500; previously described as a 'a safe bet with good results'. The department is dedicated to advocating for victims' rights, holding negligent parties’ accountable, and helping clients navigate the complexities of their legal claims.

For advice or assistance on a clinical negligence matter, contact our team today by telephone at 033 37702 0409.

About the Author

Ifrah Ahmed is a solicitor within the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence departments at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, working under the supervision of Director Rebecca Thomas. Recommended in the 2024 Legal 500 for being “kind, considerate and extremely hardworking”, Ifrah has several years of experience providing legal representation in relation to claims for personal injuries on behalf of individuals who have sustained serious injuries arising from road traffic collisions, accidents at work and accidents in public places.

For advice or assistance, contact Ifrah via email at IfrahA@duncanlewis.com or via telephone on 02031141215.

Duncan Lewis Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Solicitors is an award-winning law firm, is renowned for its exceptional legal services and commitment to justice. The company employs a team of highly skilled solicitors offering top-tier representation in 25 fields of law, and ranked as top tier by the Chambers and the Legal 500 legal guides, and as one of the top 250 law firms in the country by the Times. Duncan Lewis was crowned Law Firm of the Year award at the Modern Law Awards 2023, further establishing its credentials as one of the leading law firms in the UK.